[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32253-32254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15254]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Connecticut in the Possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains from Connecticut in 
the possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan 
Indian Tribe.
    In 1870, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum by Alfred Hersey of Westerly, RI. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Correspondence from the donor indicates these human remains were 
``exhumed from a grave in an old burying ground of the Pequot 
Indians.'' Although Peabody Museum documentation lists the geographic 
location of the human remains as ``Westerly, Rhode Island'' due to the 
postmark on the collector's correspondence, there is no information 
that the remains actually came from that location. Based on the copper 
staining on the human remains, these human remains have been determined 
to date to the contact/early historic period (post-1614). Consultation 
evidence presented by representatives of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe 
indicates that in about 1870, the Fanning Road cemetery in Ledyard CT, 
a known historic burial area of the Mashantucket Pequot was looted. The 
cultural attribution of the burial area given by the donor, combined 
with the historic date of the human remains, the donation date of the 
human remains, and the date of looting of the historic Fanning Road 
burial area of the Mashantucket Pequot indicates that these human 
remains most likely came from the Fanning Road cemetery.
    In 1923, human remains representing two individuals from 
Stonington, CT were donated to the Peabody Museum from Brown 
University, RI. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates these human remains were collected 
on an unknown date by Reverend Frederick Denison. In 1871, Denison 
donated his collection of Native American cultural material to the 
Jenks Museum at Brown University. Museum records and copper staining on 
the human remains indicate the remains were interred sometime during 
the early historic period or later (post-1614 A.D.). Oral tradition and 
historic documentation support that the geographic area of Stonington 
is within

[[Page 32254]]

the aboriginal and historic homeland of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.
    In 1937, human remains representing one individual from Ecclestone 
Site, Mystic, CT were donated to the Peabody Museum from the Department 
of Archaeology at Philips Andover Academy in Andover, MA. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    These human remains were collected in 1922 as part of an expedition 
by Warren King Moorehead. Museum documentation indicates that Moorehead 
was specifically investigating Native American burial grounds on this 
expedition. Museum records indicate the individual was interred 
sometime during the contact/early historic period (post-1614 A.D.). 
Oral tradition and historic documentation supports the Ecclestone site 
as being within the aboriginal and historic homelands of the 
Mashantucket Pequot Indians.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.
    In 1937, human remains representing one individual from Norwich, CT 
were donated to the Peabody Museum from the Department of Archaeology 
at Philips Andover Academy, Andover, MA. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    These human remains were collected in 1922 as part of an expedition 
by Warren King Moorehead. Museum documentation indicates Moorehead was 
specifically investigating Native American burial grounds on this 
expedition. Museum records indicate this individual was interred 
sometime during the contact/early historic period (post-1614 A.D.). 
Oral tradition and historic documentation support the conclusion that 
the geographic area of Norwich falls within the aboriginal and historic 
homelands of the Mohegan Indian Tribe.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and the Mohegan Indian Tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Mashantucket Pequot 
Tribe and the Mohegan Indian Tribe. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Barbara Isaac, 
Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 
Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138; telephone: 
(617) 495-2254, before July 16, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains 
to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Indian Tribe may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations 
within this notice.
Dated: June 10, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
    Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager,Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-15254 Filed 6-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F